I have had the fortune to catch the first three episodes of the new Battlestar Galactica series and enjoyed them a great deal.
Like many BG fans I grew up on reruns of the original series and had several embedded prejudices in place prior to the airing of the miniseries. Although not a rabid fan of the series, I enjoyed it for the cotton candy it is, and reveled in the classic moments such as when the Pegasus arrived, when Count Iblis made his appearance, and so on.
In truth, it was my admiration for the work of Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell that really got my attention when I heard about the new series more so than a secret wish that Richard Hatch had succeeded in realizing his sequel to the series. I frankly looked forward to at the very least seeing Olmos deliver his signature intensity in his interpretation of Adama.
As for the miniseries, I wasn't let down. I for one enjoyed the docu-style approach, I enjoyed the re-interpretation of life aboard a super carrier - as a Marine vet, I could relate to many of the seeming anachronisms and it made much of the drama a bit more poignant to me. Starbuck as a woman worked in the context of the re-imagining, likewise Boomer. In fact Boomer is on the way to becoming my favorite of the re-interpreted characters.
I only had a couple of real so-so reactions to the new characterizations. Colonel Tigh comes off as an older, grumpier Mr. Garibaldi from Babylon 5; almost beat for beat he's playing the slightly tarnished war horse with a drinking habit part by the numbers. I can only hope we'll get some nuisance AND a sense of why Adama and Tigh are friends. I miss Athena but considering the original BG under used her I can see why she didn't make the cut. I was always disappointed that the original show never really created a strong sense of Apollo and Athena's relationship and that the shadow of Zac was so easily forgotten. Another worry: Apollo. Right now he is not the hero he used to be. As a kid, I loved Richard Hatch's slightly messianic portrayal of the heroic icon, as an adult, I just want Apollo to be a tough fighter pilot and CAC;(as a foot note, if Moore's mandate is the carrier in space bit, we gotta have the air boss). Now granted the new show seems to have put the lens squarely on the conflict between Adama and President Roslin, I hope the relationship (whatever form it takes) between Apollo and Starbuck still remains part of the spine of the mythology.
Along with Boomer, I am enjoying the new interpretation of Balter. Although I loved the fact that in the original series Adama always had an implacable enemy in John Calicos, this new vision lends itself to some deeper themes of guilt and betrayal and so forth.
In the series, based on the three episodes I have seen so far, I have nothing but praise. The quality and craftsmanship that has gone into this production is evident in every frame. I loved watching a strung out crew jumping every 33 minutes - running from an implacable enemy; I loved seeing the corridor of photographs where people were inquiring about loved ones they'd lost; I loved President Roslin changing the survivor list as lives were lost and gained.
In this way, I feel the reinterpretation will be much more poignant on a human level than its predecessor. The original BG was high concept, big picture issues of good v evil, legend, myth and so forth. My favorite episodes were always the ones that dealt with the characters: Starbuck stranded on a planet alone with a Cylon is my all time favorite; Apollo loosing his wife and gaining a stepson, a close second; Adama and Caine and the conflicts thereof, good stuff.
So for those of you die hards who are married to the old series, all I can say is I feel you, but it was a product of the times it was born within. The new series, likewise, is a product of the current times. It's a far more introspective take on a simple concept and I wish it long life.
Okay - I just finished watching the series finale (eps 12 and 13). I have to add to my previous posting that this new series resonates in a way few others have. It hit on all points; there was surprise after surprise and for all those whiners who cannot let the past go, I can only say in their closed mindedness they are missing one of the most intelligently written, well produced shows on television. The final scene was worth the price of admission alone.
From music, to acting, to set design, this series is a class act. I am glad that Richard Hatch saw his way clear to participate. I see a great place in the run of this version of BG for Hatch and his character, the enigmatic Tom Z.
Great show.
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